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Food intolerance: a community survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

M. L. Burr
Affiliation:
MRC Epidemiology Unit, 4 Richmond Road, Cardiff CF2 3AS
T. G. Merrett
Affiliation:
RAST Allergy Unit, Benenden Chest Hospital, Benenden, Cranbrook, Kent
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Abstract

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1. A questionnaire inquiring about food intolerance was sent to a random sample of the electorate in a small South Wales town. Replies were received from 170 men and 305 women, the response rates being 87 and 93% respectively.

2. Adverse effects of some food were reported by 19% of men and 26% of women, or 14 and 18% respectively if minor digestive symptoms are excluded. Certain foods were thought to cause non-abdominal symptoms by 4% of men and 10% of women, and vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain by 11% of men and 10% of women.

3. Plasma IgE was measured in a random subset of ninety-nine women and found to be significantly lower in those with major symptoms than in the rest. This suggests that allergy is probably not a common cause of food intolerance.

Type
Papers of direct relevance to Clinical and Human Nutrition
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1983

References

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